【欧美文化】"Sorry" First

[color=#008000]There is one word that is on the lips of Americans, day and night: "Sorry".
One time as I was walking on the street, a young man ran by hurriedly, brushing against my handbag. Even as he continued on his way, he turned back and said "sorry" to me. Even in a rush, he didn't forget to apologize.
One day, after I bought a mango, the salesman was giving me the change, but I wasn't ready for it and a coin dropped to the ground. "I'm sorry," he said while bending down to pick it up. I was puzzled - why would he apologize when it was my fault?
Another time, I stepped on a man's foot in an escalator. At the same time, we both said "sorry." I thought it interesting: was it really necessary for him to apologize?
Later on, an American friend explained to me that according to the American mentality, the escalator is a public place, and everyone should be able to stand in it. After someone occupies a position in the elevator, making it difficult for someone else to find a place to stand, isn't it necessary to express an apology?
If you go to the movies and the tickets happen to be sold out, the ticket seller will say: "Sorry, the tickets are sold out."
Whenever one of your hopes goes unfulfilled, an American will say "sorry," as a sign of sympathy.
During my stay in America, I often came across situations in which I was supposed to say "sorry." Gradually, I realized that when friction occurs in daily life, Americans don't care much about who is responsible; if someone important and she is very busy, the secretary will say: "sorry."
If someone is troubled, a "sorry" is always necessary. When this happens, even if the other person is hurt, the "sorry" cools tempers - and human generosity is displayed. Perhaps this is why I never saw anyone quarreling on the buses, subways or streets of America.[/color]

"Sorry"先行


　[color=#000080]　有一个词，从早到晚挂在美国人的嘴边上，那就Sorry（对不起）。
　　有一次走在街上，一个有急事的年轻人匆匆跑过，碰了我的提包，他边跑边回过头来冲我喊sorry，匆忙中他也没忘记表示歉意。
　 一次我买芒果，小贩把零钱找给我，我没接好，一个硬币掉落到地上。I'm sorry.小贩边说边弯腰拣起硬币递给我。我觉得挺不可思议，明明是我自己手脚不利索，他为什么要道歉？
　 有一次，我乘电梯时不小心踩了一位先生的脚，我赶忙说了一声sorry，可同时，从那位先生的口中也冒出了这个词。我不禁暗自发笑：你有什么必要sorry呢？事后一个美国朋友解释，按照美国人思维方式，电梯间是公共场所，谁都有权站在那儿。由于自己首先占据一块地方，别人才没有足够的地方站稳当，难道不该表示sorry吗？
　　到电影院去买票，赶上没票，售票员便会说：“对不起，票卖完了”。 凡是你的愿望得不到满足，美国人便会说声对不起，表示他们对此也感到遗憾,使你感受到同情之心。
　 在美期间，我常常遇到这类本应该由我说对不起的事情，渐渐地我悟出了其中原委：当生活出现小摩擦时，美国人并不去考虑是谁的责任，只要是给对方带来了不便，都要说一声sorry。
　 这样一来，即使有一方受点伤害，在人家的sorry声中心境也会平和下来。而没受伤害的一方则体会到人与人之间的友善，这恐怕也是我从未在美国的公共汽车、地铁、街道上看到有人吵架的原因吧。[/color]

Being courtesy is a good manner for us to communicate with each other.em11

[quote]原帖由 [i]ultradc[/i] 于 2007-4-10 10:01 AM 发表 [url=http://bbs.freekaoyan.com/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=981795&ptid=123151][img]http://bbs.freekaoyan.com/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]
Being courtesy is a good manner for us to communicate with each other.em11 [/quote]

[color=darkorange]It seems there is one mistake in your sentence
when manner refers to 礼貌，It must be used in 复数[font=Trebuchet MS][size=2] plural[/size][/font]

[/color][b]manners:[/b]  
n. 礼貌
social deportment



[color=darkgreen][quote][color=darkgreen]例句与用法:
1. It is bad manners to interrupt.  
打断别人说话是不礼貌的。

2. It's bad manners to ask other's salary if you are not very familiar.  
如果你们不是很熟的话，问别人薪水多少是很不礼貌的。

3. Before entering a house in some Asian countries, it is good manners to take off your shoes.  
在某些亚洲的国家，进屋子之前脱下鞋子才是有礼貌的。

4. His coarse manners shocked everyone.  
他的粗鲁的举止使每个人震惊。

5. It is my belief that good manners are very important to everybody.  
我相信礼貌对大家是很重要的。

6. His aristocratic manners seemed ridiculous in this poor area.  
在这个贫穷的地区，他的贵族气派显得很可笑。

7. It's bad manners to whisper in company.  
当著别人窃窃私语是不礼貌的行为.

8. Children should learn above all how to observe good manners at table.  
小孩首先应学会餐桌礼仪。[/color][/quote][/color]

em26 em26

[quote]原帖由 [i]lxh110w[/i] 于 2007-4-10 08:01 PM 发表 [url=http://bbs.freekaoyan.com/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=984183&ptid=123151][img]http://bbs.freekaoyan.com/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]
em26 em26 [/quote]
em34
mistakes are the god em25

[quote]原帖由 [i]默然回首[/i] 于 2007-4-10 20:46 发表 [url=http://bbs.freekaoyan.com/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=984397&ptid=123151][img]http://bbs.freekaoyan.com/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]

em34
mistakes are the god em25 [/quote]

I agree ~~I'v learned something about "manners"~~

I usually say "sorry" in English not in chinese……I think it is more acceptable……

[quote]原帖由 [i]默然回首[/i] 于 2007-4-10 18:53 发表 [url=http://bbs.freekaoyan.com/redirect.php?goto=findpost&pid=983830&ptid=123151][img]http://bbs.freekaoyan.com/images/common/back.gif[/img][/url]


It seems there is one mistake in your sentence
when manner refers to 礼貌，It must be used in 复数 plural

manners:  
n. 礼貌
social deportment

[/quote]

[font=Arial][color=navy]Many thanks!em11  I got it!  I look into dictionary and find "manner" used as '礼貌"[/color][/font]

[color=#008000]3 manners [pl]
[/color][color=red](a) social behaviour 礼貌; 规矩[/color]
    [color=blue]good/bad manners 有[没有]礼貌[/color]
    [color=blue]It's bad manners to stare at people. 瞪著眼睛看人是不礼貌的.[/color]
    [color=blue]He has no manners at all, ie behaves very badly. 他毫无礼貌.[/color]
    [color=blue]Aren't you forgetting your manners (ie being rude)? 你是不是没礼貌了?[/color]
[color=#0000ff][/color]
[font=Arial][color=navy]I think I should say" Being courtesy is good manners for us to communicate with each other"em09 [/color][/font]

Moran is a good teacher,thank you!

Sorry,I come late.
I like to make friends with those who is polite.

是的
确实是一种文化
一种素质的体现